Catherine M. Main

Catherine M. Main is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Early Childhood Education in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). She also serves as a Visiting Scholar at the Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) at UIC. Her work spans over 30 years in early childhood education and policy, focusing on program development, teacher licensure innovation, and workforce transformation. She leads the U.S. Department of Education-funded Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) grant and the Illinois Early Childhood Apprenticeship Pilot project, collaborating with the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

Education

• Master of Education in Instructional Leadership (Early Childhood Specialization), University of Illinois at Chicago (1992)
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Economics/Finance), Marquette University (1987)

Research Interests

Main’s research emphasizes teacher preparation pathways, constructivist pedagogies in early childhood settings, and policy-driven solutions to address workforce shortages. She advocates for culturally responsive practices and systemic reforms to diversify and strengthen early childhood educator pipelines in urban environments, particularly in Chicago.

Grants & Projects

• Principal Investigator (PI) for a U.S. DOE Teacher Quality Partnership Grant
• Lead on the Illinois Early Childhood Apprenticeship Pilot

Awards

• 2019 Award for Excellence in Teaching (UIC)
• 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award (UIC Department of Educational Psychology)
• 2014 Service to the Field Award (CMAEYC)

Labs/Initiatives

Main coordinates the UIC Early Childhood Collaborative and oversees innovative programs like the Blended Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education and Alternative Licensure programs, both first-of-their-kind in Illinois.